25 Colorful Close-Ups of Microscopic Viruses

Cameron_Fetter Published 03/27/2025 in ftw

People say the best things come in small packages, but sometimes the worst things come in really really tiny packages. I am referring of course to the various dangerous viruses and bacteria that have the potential to infect us. Though invisible to the naked eye, they still pack a punch.

Despite their nasty effects on the human body, many viruses look oddly compelling up close. Electron microscopes and color staining reveal interesting shapes and eye-catching colors.

Check out these magnified pictures of viruses and try not to think of the havoc they can wreak.

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1.
H1N1 influenza virus particles
2.
Ebola virus
3.
Smallpox virus consisting of red DNA surrounded by a yellow protein coating
4.
Streptococcus pneumoniae, which can cause pneumonia in immunocompromised people
5.
Smallpox virus at 28,500x magnification
6.
Streptococcus pneumoniae, which can cause pneumonia in immunocompromised people
7.
The plague bacteria, thought to be the cause of the Black Death plague in Europe in the 14th century
8.
E. coli bacteria
9.
Tuberculosis bacteria
10.
Rod-shaped Anthrax bacteria
11.
Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria, the cause of lyme disease in humans
12.
Human papillomavirus, aka HPV.
13.
Polio viruses at 90,000x magnification
14.
Red SARS virus particles inside a host cell
15.
Coronavirus, aka Covid-19 at 60,000x magnification
16.
Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV), a plant virus that causes mosaic-like patterns on the leaves of infected plants
17.
Herpes simplex virus
18.
Microscopic image of the protozoan Giardia
19.
An influenza virus particle, the cause of the flu
20.
Blue and orange cells infected with orange Ebola virus
21.
Virus particles from the Spanish flu of 1918
22.
The gold-colored particles are the bird flu virus
23.
Close-up of Marburg virus
24.
Dental plaque, the cause of tooth decay
25.
Bacteriophage under electron microscope

1.
H1N1 influenza virus particles
2.
Ebola virus
3.
Smallpox virus consisting of red DNA surrounded by a yellow protein coating
4.
Streptococcus pneumoniae, which can cause pneumonia in immunocompromised people
5.
Smallpox virus at 28,500x magnification
6.
Streptococcus pneumoniae, which can cause pneumonia in immunocompromised people
7.
The plague bacteria, thought to be the cause of the Black Death plague in Europe in the 14th century
8.
E. coli bacteria
9.
Tuberculosis bacteria
10.
Rod-shaped Anthrax bacteria
11.
Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria, the cause of lyme disease in humans
12.
Human papillomavirus, aka HPV.
13.
Polio viruses at 90,000x magnification
14.
Red SARS virus particles inside a host cell
15.
Coronavirus, aka Covid-19 at 60,000x magnification
16.
Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV), a plant virus that causes mosaic-like patterns on the leaves of infected plants
17.
Herpes simplex virus
18.
Microscopic image of the protozoan Giardia
19.
An influenza virus particle, the cause of the flu
20.
Blue and orange cells infected with orange Ebola virus
21.
Virus particles from the Spanish flu of 1918
22.
The gold-colored particles are the bird flu virus
23.
Close-up of Marburg virus
24.
Dental plaque, the cause of tooth decay
25.
Bacteriophage under electron microscope